"Once a year even the stick shoots" - Emotional Sabalenka takes dig at Rybakina after WTA Finals defeat

While it has been a terrific year for Aryna Sabalenka, there were a lot of near misses throw in. Two Grand Slam final defeats have now been joined by her loss in the WTA Finals final against Elena Rybakina 6-3, 7-6(0). After the match, she was very emotional after another championship title came and went.

The duo were not just fighting it out for a ridiculous sum of money - $5.23 million - but also the chance to rack up 1,500 ranking points due to them winning every match they have played in the event. It would be Rybakina who reaped the lucrative rewards, continuing her dominance on court in Riyadh to bypass the world number one and claim her maiden WTA Finals title.

For Sabalenka, it was another final defeat in 2025. She fought her best, but on the day she was not clinical enough against the rampant Rybakina. The Kazakh took her chances when Sabalenka did not, thus earning her the title in a closely fought matchup.

After the defeat, the Belarusian traversed to her chair where the loss sank in. As a true competitor and champion, these types of defeats are very hard for the four-time Grand Slam champion to swallow, especially if you have endured so many similar scenarios throughout the calendar year.

On her chair, she became very emotional. With people surrounding her, she muttered: "Once a year even the stick shoots." This is a Russian saying taking a slight dig at Rybakina. It means that someone who is possibly not accomplished or skilful enough to succeed or triumph can eventually get over the line once in a while. This statement commented in frustration is targeted at Rybakina, implying that she is not good enough to come out victorious, but somehow did on this occasion. It is like Sabalenka normally defeats her opponent relatively comfortably. However, this may not be the case.

While Sabalenka can boast a better record over the 2022 Wimbledon champion, she is not a million miles ahead of her rival, with a 9-7 head-to-head record after the final defeat. This year, it is 2-2 on the court. The three prior ties came coincidentally at quarter-final stages. Sabalenka came out on top in Berlin and Wuhan, while Rybakina picked up a big win in the Cincinnati. It is a completely different story when you look at their matchups in finals. Rybakina holds a 3-1 win-rate over Sabalenka in championship clashes. The only loss was the 2023 Australian Open, where Sabalenka picked up her maiden Grand Slam title. Since then, Rybakina has won at Indian Wells, Brisbane and most recently the WTA Finals.

While boasting a smile throughout, the pain she was feeling was visible to see by anyone watching. As she started her speech, she was fighting back the tears as the crowd clapped and supported her. It was obviously a tough moment for the two-time WTA Finals finalist, but along with the fans her team were up on their feet showing their admiration towards the number one.

She will have to wait another year to redeem herself of this pain and misery. Despite this, she still has a lot to look forward to, with tennis soon going Down Under with the start of the 2026 season on the horizon. That is despite the WTA calendar just coming to a close. She will be looking to bounce back from a disheartening final defeat to Madison Keys just under a year ago.